Gerry Taggart continues his managerial apprenticeship at League One Oldham United, where he is number two to former Arsenal player Paul Dickov.

Oldham kick-off the new season on Saturday at Tranmere with high hopes for the season ahead.

Taggart, capped 51 times by Northern Ireland, was announced as the assistant manager in June after working under Gary Megson as first-team coach at Leicester City, where he was also briefly caretaker manager.

Dickov still wants to play his part on the field, but agrees that will be down to Taggart.

He said: “We’ll have to see about that; I’m still a bit behind the boys as I’ve had a lot of other stuff to do. My playing will only happen if my assistant will feel I’m right and ready.

“He’ll tell me and I trust him.

“We both sing from the same sheet, we have a really good understanding and we both want the same things.”

Hoping to impress the new management at the club are ex-Linfield midfielder Kirk Millar and Warren Feeney, who is now at his ninth English club.

Danny Wilson, the English-born manager of Swindon Town, who won 24 caps for Northern Ireland, lost leading scorer Billy Paynter to Leeds United on a free transfer last season and it looks as though this term will be a struggle for them.

Ryan McGivern has been sent out on-loan from Manchester City to Walsall this season.

The 20-year-old Newry-born defender came through the Academy set-up at City, but has spent most of his time on loan, at Morecambe under Sammy McIlroy and also last season at Leicester City.

He joins William Grigg, an under-21 Northern Ireland international striker and Londonderry-born striker Steve Jones at the Saddlers.

In League Two Midfielder Mark Hughes is beginning his second full season with Barnet.

The Dungannon-man, who has two Northern Ireland caps, has been a regular since joining them from Chester City.

Paul Morgan has been appointed Macclesfield Town captain for the coming season. The 31-year-old defender from Belfast initially joined the club on-loan before signing last year.

Ex-Coleraine midfielder Eunan O’Kane starts his first full season with Torquay United after moving from the Irish League. Last year the former Everton apprentice scored one goal from 16 appearances in England.